"We were told that it couldn't occur because it was winter, around the election time, the surf might not break very kindly. Now it is summer again, now we are about to go out of summer... and soon we will be at the point where the deal, which is to do it by June, will expire," he told the Ten Network's Meet the Press.

"I think that is disappointing. It was for charity. They have won the auction. We have given them a chance to go surfing and we can’t seem to get a way of getting Tony Abbott on the surfboard."

Mr Abbott's office told the Herald he stood by the commitment and was "looking to schedule it soon".

"It is something Tony will definitely honour," a spokesman said. "He has a problem with his hamstring but it will probably be right soon."